Every year during the last week of October, Read to Them sponsors Read Aloud to a Child Week, a national event to showcase the importance of reading aloud to children and to encourage families to read together. For over 20 years, Read Aloud to a Child Week has been a stress-free way to engage with the literacy community. It truly is as simple as selecting books of your choice and reading aloud as a family.
The 2021 event will run from October 24 – 30th, which is right around the corner. Be sure to mark your calendar— you won’t want to miss it!
This past May, you had the opportunity to vote for the Read Aloud to a Child Week theme yourself. Read to Them is pleased to announce that the 2021 theme is GRATITUDE!
Now is the time to recognize and thank the people in our lives who’ve helped us through this trying year. Identify the moments and people who bring you joy. Reflect on the positive parts of your everyday life, any part that brings you joy. Be it the big, small, and in-between things, you’ll have the opportunity to ask your children: Who are you grateful for? Where do you find the light when the world feels dark? Who do you want to thank?
Below are five picture books and five chapter books that embody gratitude in one way or another. For a more extensive list, be sure to check out the Read Aloud to a Child Week program page.
| Picture Books | Chapter Books |
| Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho | Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan |
| All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon | Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin |
| Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena | Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina |
| We are Grateful: Ostaliheliga by Traci Sorell | Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson |
| The Ramble Shamble Children by Christina Soontornvat | Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins |
For the latest Read Aloud to a Child Week updates, be sure to follow Read to Them on Facebook for more information as the event draws nearer. We hope you’re eager to read with us!
